QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Time with Jesus - Wed, 14 November 2012

Hi all,

There was a time when I felt that examination papers involving questions with multiple possible answers were a good thing. Then as I tried to get the right answers, I found that they were much harder than I thought. When the questioner is “God”, finding the correct answer is not always possible. Questions and answer comprise today’s meditation.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 14 November 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Strange statements and words with hidden meanings were very popular during the 1950’s. One that comes to mind is, “How high is a Chinaman”. Pronounced and spelled this way it’s meaningless. But when it’s spelled, “How Hi is a Chinaman”. It’s no longer a question be a statement. Mr How Hi is clearly Chinese. Perhaps the best known riddle in the Bible was the one posed by Samson. 14 Samson replied, "Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet." For three days they couldn't give him the answer. Judges 14:14 NIrV We know that eventually, Samson’s “wife” gave the answer of the riddle to the Philistines. It made Samson angry and he dealt with them accordingly. Riddles posed by men to men are one thing. When God poses a riddle it’s seldom that He is looking for an answer. An example in today’s Scriptures is found in Jeremiah 12:5. “Suppose you have run in a race with other men. And suppose they have worn you out. Then how would you be able to race against horses?” We are left with this open question. Almost the entire book of Job contains questions and answers. Some have straight-forward answers. Others do not. Some of them were posed by his three “friends”, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. These three “friends” tried their best to convince Job that full responsibility for this disaster was at the door of Job himself. Those who have read the book know the facts! Toward the end of the book, another “friend” Elihu the Buzite, continues with the interrogation process. From Chapter 32 to 37 he questions and challenges Job in a remarkable way. Some of his questions are quite extraordinary and we are prompted to wonder where and how a young man could ask such deep questions. But if we take a look at his name, we see something rather beautiful. His name Elihu, means, “he is my God himself” A strange name for such an interrogator. Then, suddenly in Chapter 39 the Lord begins to ask questions. This raises the issue of whether or not Elihu’s words didn’t originate from the heart of God? The Lord’s first statement to Job is: 3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Job 38:3 NLT One of my favourite verses from Job is found in Job 41: 1 "Can you catch Leviathan with a hook or put a noose around its jaw? Job 41:1 NLT Reading these words I feel embarrassed for Job. How can anyone answer such questions? Toward the end, we get a glimpse of God’s greatness and our smallness. This is the God Who created the universe. We are little more than a speck on the surface of a tiny planet in a cosmic backwater. But He loves us. Why? That’s the biggest riddle of all! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			5 The LORD says, "Suppose you have run in a race with other men. And suppose they have worn you out. Then how would you be able to race against horses? Suppose you feel safe only in open country. Then how would you get along in the bushes near the Jordan River? Jeremiah 12:5 NIrV 15 (The Jordan overflows all its banks during the harvest season.) When the priests who were carrying the ark came to the edge of the Jordan River and set foot in 16 the water, the water stopped flowing from upstream. The water rose up like a dam as far away as the city of Adam near Zarethan. The water flowing down toward the Sea of the Plains (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. Then the people crossed from the east side of the Jordan River directly opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the LORD'S promise stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. Joshua 3:15-17 GW 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 TNIV 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 NIV 2 You will pass through deep waters. But I will be with you. You will pass through the rivers. But their waters will not sweep over you. You will walk through fire. But you will not be burned. The flames will not harm you. Isaiah 43:2 NIrV 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell. Revelation 1:17-18 NIrV	He called it a “canackler”; that’s how my Dad described A question without answers that clever men contrived. Like what’s the basic contrast between water, ice and steam? They are the same, but different; like butter, milk and cream. And then there is the snowflake. Each one looks just the same. But looked at through a microscope – now that’s a new ball-game. Can you compute precisely the true value of “Pi”?                   {(Pie) - (π)} If you want to do it, go on - give it a try. Or, how long is a piece of sting when cut right through the middle? And is there any difference between violin and fiddle? These questions all sound silly. But don’t take me to task Until you check the questions which God Almighty asked. When you compete with other men in an athletics race. If you are feeling tired out, please tell me how you’ll face, When running against horses! Do you think you will cope? A little word of warning friend, you haven’t got a hope. These are the sort of questions the Lord delights to ask. He’s wants us to confess to Him, it’s far too big a task. Usually He asks them, when we forget our place, And we feel so embarrassed; with “egg upon our face”. Obedience is better. For when He speaks to you, Then do and do and do and do and do and do and do! If He says “You have to jump”; then leap into the sky. The only proper question is, “O Father God, how high”? The river Jordan was in flood and it could not be forded. When the Priests bearing the ark, by Joshua were ordered, To march into the river. Some thought that he was mad. Perhaps he’d lost his marbles? Or he’d done something bad? But when the priests who bore the ark put one foot in that stream The flow of water somehow stopped. It all backed up it seems. We’re told it rose up like a dam as far as Zarethan And everybody walked across. Each woman, child and man! When the priest had walked across and reached the other side, The water started rushing back like an enormous tide. So when the Lord has told you to do some “crazy” thing. Do not even hesitate. His words may have the ring Of something so outrageous that you would rather not, Just go ahead and do it. It’s the only chance you’ve got. Jim Strickland  Written 14th November 2012